name=Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand ''and'' Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, New Gracanica Metropolitanate|

+

name=Serbian Orthodox Church - Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand|

jurisdiction=[[Church of Serbia]]|

jurisdiction=[[Church of Serbia]]|

type=Dioceses|

type=Dioceses|

founded=1974|

founded=1974|

−

bishop=vacant|

+

bishop=Bp [[Irinej (Dobrijevic) of Australia and New Zealand|Irinej (Dobrijević)]]|

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see=Canberra ACT,<br>Elaine, Vic|

+

see=Australia and New Zealand|

−

hq=Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia|

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hq=Sydney, NSW|

territory=Australia, New Zealand|

territory=Australia, New Zealand|

language=Serbian, Slavonic, English|

language=Serbian, Slavonic, English|

Line 15:

Line 15:

website=[http://www.soc.org.au Dioceses of Aust. & NZ]

website=[http://www.soc.org.au Dioceses of Aust. & NZ]

}}

}}

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The '''Serbian Orthodox Church in Australia and New Zealand''', headquartered in Canberra, ACT, and Elaine, VIC, is the descriptive term of two parallel dioceses in Australia and New Zealand: the Patriarchal ''Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand''; and the ''Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, New Gracanica Metropolitanate''. Currently it is headed by [[Milutin (Knezevic) of Valjevo|Milutin (Knežević)]].

+

The '''Serbian Orthodox Church - Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand''' is the local metropolitanate for Serbian Orthodox parishes in Australia and New Zealand. It is headquartered in Sydney, NSW, and is headed by [[Irinej (Dobrijevic) of Australia and New Zealand|Irinej (Dobrijević) of Australia and New Zealand]] since [[October 21]], 2006.

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At the May 2006 Holy Synod, [[Hieromonk]] [[Irinej (Dobrijevic) of Australia and New Zealand|Irinej (Dobrijević)]] was appointed to head the Patriarchal diocese, and administer the New Gracanica diocese.

+

Prior to June 2011, the Metropolitanate was composed of two parallel dioceses: the Patriarchal ''Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand'', headquartered in Sydney, NSW; and the ''Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, New Gracanica Metropolitanate'', headquartered in Canberra, ACT.

== History ==

== History ==

−

Prior to 1992, the Serbian Orthodox in Australia and New Zealand were under two seperate dioceses: the schismatic (until 1992) Free Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, administered firstly by a metropolitan who resided at New Gracanica Monastery, Illinois, USA, and then by a local bishop who resided at [[Monastery of New Kalenic (Canberra, Australian Capital Territory)|St. Sava's Monastery (New Kalenic)]], Canberra, ACT, and the larger Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, which was within the [[Church of Serbia]] and presided over by a bishop resident at [[Monastery of St. Sava (Elaine, Victoria)|St. Sava's Monastery]], Elaine, Victoria.

+

Prior to 1992, the Serbian Orthodox in Australia and New Zealand were in two seperate dioceses: the separatist (until 1992) Free Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, administered firstly by a metropolitan who resided at New Gracanica Monastery, Illinois, USA, and then by a local bishop who resided at [[Monastery of New Kalenic (Canberra, Australian Capital Territory)|St. Sava's Monastery (New Kalenic)]], Canberra, ACT, and the larger Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, which was within the [[Church of Serbia]] and presided over by a bishop resident at [[Monastery of St. Sava (Elaine, Victoria)|St. Sava's Monastery]], Elaine, Victoria.

−

In 1992, an acceptance by the [[Church of Serbia]] of the schismatic group on the condition of altering their 'Free' name to 'New Gracanica Metropolitanate' meant that there were now two directly overlapping dioceses in Australia and New Zealand, which were administered by two bishops, one each in Elaine and Canberra. In 2000, Bishop [[Nikanor (Bogunovic) of Banat|Nicanor]] became the first sole bishop in Australia and New Zealand, being appointed reigning bishop of the New Gracanica Diocese and also administrator of the patriarchal diocese. In 2003 Bishop Milutin was appointed bishop of the New Gracanica diocese and administrator of the patriarchal diocese.

+

In 1992, an acceptance by the [[Church of Serbia]] of the separatist group on the condition of altering their 'Free' name to 'New Gracanica Metropolitanate' meant that there were now two directly overlapping dioceses in Australia and New Zealand, which were administered by two bishops, one each in Elaine and Canberra. In 2000, Bishop [[Nikanor (Bogunovic) of Banat|Nicanor]] became the first sole bishop in Australia and New Zealand, being appointed reigning bishop of the New Gracanica Diocese and also administrator of the patriarchal diocese. In 2003 his successor, Bishop Milutin was appointed bishop of the New Gracanica diocese and administrator of the patriarchal diocese.

−

== Recent History ==

+

In 2006, on Bp Milutin's transfer to the newly-formed diocese of Valjevo, the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church elected Hieromonk Irinej Dobrijevic as Bishop of Australia and New Zealand[http://www.spc.org.yu/Saopstenja/sabor-maj-2006_e.html]. On 15 July, Archimandrite Irinej was consecrated at St Mark's Cathedral, Belgrade, and he was enthroned in Australia at St Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, Elanora Heights, Sydney, on [[October 21]], 2006[http://www.antiochian.org.au/content/view/471/6/]. In contrast to previous bishops, he was appointed the bishop of the patriarchal diocese and administrator of the New Gracanica diocese.

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In 2006, Bishop Milutin was appointed Bishop of the newly-formed diocese of Valjevo following the partition of the Sabac-Valjevo diocese into two, and Hieromonk Irinej Dobrijevic was appointed in his place. Archimandrite Irinej's ordination to the episcopate is scheduled for 15 July 2006 at St. Mark's Cathedral in Belgrade, and his enthronement in Australia on 20 October of the same year [http://www.spc.org.yu/Saopstenja/sabor-maj-2006_e.html]

+

−

[http://www.antiochian.org.au/content/view/471/6/].

+

2009-10 was bittersweet, in that a small number of parishes leaving the New Gracanica diocese to join schismatic groups, while the two dioceses decided to unite into a Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand, a decision joyfully received in November 2010 by the Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church.[http://soc.org.au/sr/English-News/Hot-Topics/2130-Communiqu%C3%A9-from-the-Assembly-of-Bishops-of-the-Serbian-Orthodox-Church-from-its-regular-meeting-held-in-Belgrade-November-17-20,-2010]. The constitution of the Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand was approved at the May 2011 meeting of the Holy Synod [http://www.spc.rs/eng/communique_holy_assembly_bishops_serbian_orthodox_church_0], and the dioceses became the 'Serbian Orthodox Church - Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand' soon after.

==Organization==

==Organization==

−

The Serbian Orthodox Church in Australia and New Zealand is two parallel dioceses in the one geographical territory of Australia and New Zealand, both under the one bishop. Currently there are 41 parishes in Australia and New Zealand, with two monasteries and one skete.

+

The Serbian Orthodox Church - Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand is a single metropolitanate across the geographical territory of Australia and New Zealand. Currently there are 41 parishes in Australia and New Zealand, with two monasteries and one skete.

−

The Serbian Orthodox Church in Australia and New Zealand was a founding member of [[SCCOCA]].

+

The Patriarchal Serbian Orthodox Diocese was a founding member of [[SCCOCA]], and the Metropolitanate represented in the Episcopal Assembly of All Canonical Orthodox Bishops of Oceania by Bp Irenej.

Prior to June 2011, the Metropolitanate was composed of two parallel dioceses: the Patriarchal Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, headquartered in Sydney, NSW; and the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, New Gracanica Metropolitanate, headquartered in Canberra, ACT.

History

Prior to 1992, the Serbian Orthodox in Australia and New Zealand were in two seperate dioceses: the separatist (until 1992) Free Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, administered firstly by a metropolitan who resided at New Gracanica Monastery, Illinois, USA, and then by a local bishop who resided at St. Sava's Monastery (New Kalenic), Canberra, ACT, and the larger Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, which was within the Church of Serbia and presided over by a bishop resident at St. Sava's Monastery, Elaine, Victoria.

In 1992, an acceptance by the Church of Serbia of the separatist group on the condition of altering their 'Free' name to 'New Gracanica Metropolitanate' meant that there were now two directly overlapping dioceses in Australia and New Zealand, which were administered by two bishops, one each in Elaine and Canberra. In 2000, Bishop Nicanor became the first sole bishop in Australia and New Zealand, being appointed reigning bishop of the New Gracanica Diocese and also administrator of the patriarchal diocese. In 2003 his successor, Bishop Milutin was appointed bishop of the New Gracanica diocese and administrator of the patriarchal diocese.

In 2006, on Bp Milutin's transfer to the newly-formed diocese of Valjevo, the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church elected Hieromonk Irinej Dobrijevic as Bishop of Australia and New Zealand[1]. On 15 July, Archimandrite Irinej was consecrated at St Mark's Cathedral, Belgrade, and he was enthroned in Australia at St Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, Elanora Heights, Sydney, on October 21, 2006[2]. In contrast to previous bishops, he was appointed the bishop of the patriarchal diocese and administrator of the New Gracanica diocese.

2009-10 was bittersweet, in that a small number of parishes leaving the New Gracanica diocese to join schismatic groups, while the two dioceses decided to unite into a Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand, a decision joyfully received in November 2010 by the Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church.[3]. The constitution of the Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand was approved at the May 2011 meeting of the Holy Synod [4], and the dioceses became the 'Serbian Orthodox Church - Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand' soon after.

Organization

The Serbian Orthodox Church - Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand is a single metropolitanate across the geographical territory of Australia and New Zealand. Currently there are 41 parishes in Australia and New Zealand, with two monasteries and one skete.

The Patriarchal Serbian Orthodox Diocese was a founding member of SCCOCA, and the Metropolitanate represented in the Episcopal Assembly of All Canonical Orthodox Bishops of Oceania by Bp Irenej.